Crack down on unlicensed livery cabs

April 16, 2009 3:35:07 PM PDT

Eyewitness News

NEW YORK --

New York City livery cabs and limousines would have to show their bona fides under a plan to crack down on unlicensed livery drivers. The Taxi & Limousine Commission is set to vote on the proposal Thursday. TLC officials and driver advocates say it would help passengers avoid rogue drivers with rundown vehicles and keep them from siphoning off legitimate cabbies' fares.

State Federation of Taxi Drivers spokesman Fernando Mateo says as many as 10,000 unlicensed cab drivers ply the city's streets.

The plan would require the city's 40,000 approved car-service cars and limos to display a special window sticker, and their drivers would have to display their TLC licenses inside the car.

Drivers of the city's famous yellow cabs already must display their licenses.